Holster with adjustable mounting clip

ABSTRACT

A holster includes a case for holding a hand-gun, and a holster mounting clip or paddle releasably attached to the inner side of the case. The holster can be worn on the hip of a user, without attachment to a belt, by slipping the paddle into the narrow space between the body of the user and the waistband of the user&#39;&#39;s clothing. The paddle is roatable about its point of attachment to the case so the orientation of the paddle relative to the case can be adjusted for allowing the holster to be worn either conventionally or in a cross-draw mode. The paddle can be removed from the case to allow the user to attach the holster to his belt by threading the belt through a belt loop attached to the same side of the case as the paddle.

United States Patent [1 1 Perkins [451 Oct. 28, 1975 HOLSTER WITHADJUSTABLE MOUNTING CLIP [75] Inventor: Neale A. Perkins, Sierra Madre,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Mar. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 453,689

[52] US. Cl 224/2 B [51] Int. Cl. F41C 33/02 [58] Field of Search 224/2A, 2 B, 2 C, 2 D,

224/2 E,2F, 3,5 R,5 B,5 E, 26 R, 26 B, 26 D OTHER PUBLICATIONSSeventrees, Ltd. Catalog, 315 W. 39th, New York, New York.

Primary ExaminerFrank E. Werner Assistant ExaminerLeslie J. PapernerAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Christie, Parker & Hale [5 7] ABSTRACT Aholster includes a case for holding a hand-gun, and a holster mountingclip or paddle releasably attached to the inner side of the case. Theholster can be worn on the hip of a user, without attachment to a belt,by slipping the paddle into the narrow space between the body of theuser and the waistband of the users clothing. The paddle is roatableabout its point of attachment to the case so the orientation of thepaddle relative to the case can be adjusted for allowing the holster tobe worn either conventionally or in a crossdraw mode. The paddle can beremoved from the case to allow'the user to attach the holster to hisbelt by threading the belt through a belt loop attached to the same sideof the case as the paddle.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Sheet 1 of23,915,361

U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet2 0f2 3,915,361

iliiiiiiiifiiiii fliiiiiiiiiiiiiilii HOLSTER WITH ADJUSTABLE MOUNTINGCLIP BACKGROUND This invention relates to holsters, and moreparticularly to a holster having a novel mounting paddle for allowingthe holster to be quickly mounted on the waistband of the users clothingwithout the need for attaching the holster to a belt.

Holsters worn by off-duty and plain-clothes law enforcement officers arecommonly worn relatively high around the ofiicers waist, usually on hiship, and extremely close to the body to conceal the firearm. Suchholsters are ordinarily attached to the officers belt. In some instancesthe holster has a loop through which the belt is threaded, and in otherinstances the holster is an integral part of the belt. It is ofteninconvenient and time consuming for the officer to put on his holster byapplying a belt, especially if the belt must be threaded through beltloops on his trousers. It is also inconvenient and time consuming toremove his belt each time he wants to remove his firearm. Moreover, theconventional belt/holster combination, whether or not the holster is anintegral part of the belt, requires the officer to loosen his belt andmove it to a different position if he wants to switch his firearmbetween a conventional mode and a cross-draw mode.

During use of the conventional belt/holster combination the holstersometimes has a substantial amount of movement relative to the belt,which can be a nuisance, and even a danger, if the officer has to drawhis firearm at a moments notice. Furthermore, it is often difficult tocompletely conceal a firearm carried in a holster which is attached to abelt.

SUMMARY This invention provides a holster which can be quickly andeasily mounted on the waistband of a users clothing without the need fora belt. As an additional advantage, the holster can quickly be movedbetween a conventional position and a cross-draw position, or adjustedto any desired angle. When worn, the holster stays extremely close tothe body of the user in a fixed position relative to the users body.

Briefly, the holster includes a case having opposed inner and outersides, and an elongated, relatively narrow mounting clip attached to theinner side of the case but spaced laterally from the case. The mountingclip is arranged on the case such that the length of the clip extends ina general direction which is substantially parallel to the inner side ofthe case so the clip can fit into the narrow space between the usersbody and the waistband of his clothing to hold the case in a fixedposition close to the body of the user.

Thus, the holster can be quickly and easily mounted on or removed fromthe waistband of the users clothing simply by slipping the mounting clipinto or out of the space inside the waistband. The narrow space betweenthe holster case and the mounting clip accommodates the waistband of theusers clothing whether or not the user is wearing a belt. Preferably,the mounting clip is releasably attached to the holster, and the holsterhas a belt loop attached to the same side as the mounting clip. Thus,the mounting clip can be removed to allow the user to attach the holsterto his belt by threading his belt through the belt loop.

In a preferred form of the invention, the mounting clip includes anon-slip coating covering both its inner and outer faces to form apadded, frictional surface between it and the users clothing forproviding non-slip security against the holster being removed or movingrelative to the users body.

Preferably, an adjustable rotatable connection is provided at the pointof attachment between the mounting clip and the holster which allows theholster to be selectively aligned in any desired orientation relative tothe mounting clip. Thus, the holster can be worn in a conventional orcross-draw orientation, or any other desired orientation. Preferably,the rotatable connection includes adjustable ratchet means to bereleasably engaged for holding the holster in its desired orientation.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully understoodby referring to the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view, partly broken away, showing theholster and mounting clip combination of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view showing a belt loop on the holster and meansfor attaching the mounting clip to the holster;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view, partly broken away, taken on line 33 ofFIG. 1 and showing the holster mounted on the clothing of a user;

FIG. 4 is an exploded elevation view showing the components of theholster, belt loop, and mounting clip combination;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation view, taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4, andshowing means for holding the mounting clip in a desired orientationrelative to the holster; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation view, taken on line 66 of FIG. 4, and showingmeans for attaching the mounting clip to the holster.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a holster 10 includes a casehaving opposed inner and outer sides 12 and 14, respectively, stitchedtogether to provide the hollow interior of an open-top receptacle forholding a firearm 16. A retaining strap 18 integral with the outer sideof the holster loops tightly over the hammer of the firearm. A snap ringfastener 19 on the strap fastens to a cooperating snap ring fastener 20on a upright portion 22 of the inner side of the holster.

The detailed construction of the holster is understood best by referringto the exploded view of FIG. 4 in addition to FIGS. 1 through 3. Theholster includes an elongated, relatively thin mounting clip or paddle24 secured to the inner side 12 of the holster. The paddle 24 preferablyincludes an elongated, relatively thin metal plate 26 preferably made ofcold rolled soft maleable steel of 20 gauge thickness. When viewed fromits front side, as in FIG. 1, the metal plate has a long horizontaldimension, a relatively short vertical dimension; and is formed into aslightly inverted U-shape with rounded comers, and generally paralleltop and bottom edges which are respectively curved convex away from andconcave toward the body of the plate. An upwardly extending mountingbracket 28 is formed integrally with an intermediate portion of the topedge of plate 26. As shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, mounting bracket 28 isbent so it extends inwardly toward the inner side 12 of the holster forattachment to the holster. The detailed description of the means forattaching the bracket 28 to the holster will be described below.

Preferably, the plate 26 includes an outer coating 30 of a deformablepadding with a high-friction, non-slip surface. The bracket 28 of thepaddle remains exposed above the coated portion of plate 26. The purposeof the coating 30 is to provide a padded, non-slip surface for the innerface 32 and outer face 34 of the paddle. The coating can be made fromany of a variety of materials. For example, the coating could be madefrom a polyvinyl chloride foam, or polyurethane foam. It could also bemade by dipping it in latex, or by bonding on a layer of rubber with asuitable adhesive. The non-slip coating is preferably greater inthickness than metal plate 26 so that the coating adds an amount ofrigidity to the plate. The coating is about Vs inch thick on each sideof plate 26, so the entire paddle is slightly greater than 1 inch thick.

As shown best in FIG. 3, the body of the paddle 24 is held in a fixedposition spaced laterally from the inner side 12 of the holster so thelength of the paddle extends substantially parallel to the inner side ofthe holster and beyond both vertical edges of the holster. A narrowspace is formed between the outer face 34 of the paddle and the innerface of the holster. The paddle is releasably attached to the holster byan attachment assembly shown best in FIGS. 3 through 6. The attachmentassembly includes a generally semi-ellipticalshaped metal plate 36(shown best in FIG. 6) embedded in the inner side of the holster.Preferably, the metal plate 36 is made of 0.020 inch thick cold rolledstock steel. The plate includes a square-shaped opening 38 near its topedge to accommodate a square-shaped, internally threaded shank of aT-nut 40. The head of the T-nut 40 preferably is welded to the outerface of the plate 36 to hold the shank of the nut in hole 38. The plate36 and T-nut 40 are placed against the inner leather face 12 of theholster and held in a fixed position against the holster by a leatherbelt loop 42 which is applied over the metal plate 36 and stitched tothe inner face 12 of the holster.

When the plate 36 is held in place on the bolster, the shank of theT-nut 40 extends through an opening 44 in the belt loop and outwardlyfrom the opposite face of the belt loop. A metal ratchet wheel 46 isfitted over the protruding shank of the T-nut. The ratchet wheel has asquare opening 47 which allows the wheel to be press-fitted over theshank and flat against the face of the belt loop.

The outer face of bracket 28 has a circular recess 48 approximately thesame size as the ratchet wheel 46. The perimeter of the recess isgrooved or serrated as will be described in greater detail below. Therecess includes a concentric opening 50 to be aligned with opening 47 inthe ratchet wheel 46. The threaded shank of a screw 54 fits through theopening 50 in the top of the paddle and is threaded into the internallythreaded shank of the T-nut 40. Tightening of the screw against the faceof the bracket 28 will bind the serrated outer edges of the ratchetwheel 46 and the recess 48 to hold the paddle 24 in a fixed positionrelative to the holster. The recess 48 has a series of spaced apartratchet teeth or serrations 64, preferably the same number as theserrations 60. The radius of the ratchet wheel 46 also is substantiallythe same as the radius of the recess 48.

In use, the holster of this invention may be worn close to the hip ofthe user simply by slipping the paddle into the narrow space between thebody of the user (represented in phantom lines at 68 in FIG. 3) and theinner side of the waistband of the users clothing (represented inphantom line at 70 in FIG. 3). The narrow space between the outer sideof the paddle and the inner face of the holster accommodates thewaistband, whether or not the user is wearing a belt. In theillustration shown in FIG. 3, a belt is shown in phantom line at 72.

Thus, the holster may be worn in a hip-hugging manner and appliedquickly and easily without the necessity of using a belt to hold theholster, or threading the belt through belt loops or the like. Theholster also may be quickly removed without the necessity of having toremove a belt which holds the holster. The non-slip, padded surface ofthe paddle makes wearing the holster comfortable, and at the same timeholds the holster in a fixed position while being worn. If the userwants to attach the holster to his belt, the paddle can be removed byunthreading the screw 54. The users belt can then be threaded throughthe belt loop 42. Moreover, the plate 26 is curved convex away from theinner face of the holster to substantially match the contour of the hiparea of the users body. Since the plate 26 is maleable, it may be bentto adjust its contour to fit the shape of any user. This aids inpositioning the holster so that maximum concealment of the holster andfirearm can be provided.

As an additional advantage, the paddle can be loosened and rotated aboutits point of attachment to provide any desired adjustment in theorientation of the paddle relative to the holster. Once the screw 54 istightened, the cooperating ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel and recessbind to lock the paddle in a fixed position relative to the holster.There are a large number of the ratchet teeth so that there are arelatively large number of possible points of engagement between theteeth. Preferably, the paddle can be rotated in increments of about 8 to10" at a time, and then fixed by tightening the screw 54, so that thepaddle can be held in a large number of orientations. Thus, the user canwear the holster in practically any desired orientation he wishes,whether it be a conventional orientation, a cross-draw orientation, orany other desired position.

I claim:

1. A holster comprising a case for holding a firearm or the like, thecase having an inner side to be located adjacent the body of a userwearing the holster; an elongated mounting clip attached to the innerside of the case, a portion of the mounting clip being spaced apartlaterally from the inner side of the case; the mounting clip includingan elongated metal piece, and an outer layer of a compressible materialcovering the metal piece and having a generally roughened, frictionalouter surface; fastening means for releasably attaching the mountingclip to the case; and a belt loop attached to the inner face of theholster case, the mounting clip being spaced apart laterally from thebelt loop and being of relatively narrow profile and positioned so thelength of the mounting clip extends generally parallel to the inner sideof the case for fitting into the narrow space between the clothing ofthe user and the users body to hold the case in a fixed positionadjacent the body of the user.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for rotatablyattaching the mounting clip to the inner side of the case so themounting clip is rotatable about an axis extending through the innerside of the case;

' and fastening means for releasably holding the mounting clip in any ofa plurality of rotational orientations relative to the case.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including cooperating detent means onthe mounting clip and the inner side of the case to engage each otherand hold the mounting clip in a fixed rotational orientation relative tothe case.

4. A holster comprising a case for holding a firearm or the like, thecase having an inner side to be located adjacent the body of a userwearing the holster; an elongated mounting clip attached to the innerside of the case, a portion of the mounting clip being spaced apartlaterally from the inner side of the case; the mounting clip being ofrelatively narrow profile and positioned so the length of the mountingclip extends generally parallel to the inner side of the case forfitting into the narrow space between the clothing of the user and theusers body to hold the case in a fixed position adjacent the body of theuser; means for rotatably attaching the mounting clip to the inner sideof the case so the mounting clip is rotatable about an axis extendingthrough the inner side of the case; fastening means for releasablyholding the mounting clip in any of a plurality of rotationalorientations relative to the case, the fastening means includingcooperating detent means on the mounting clip and the inner side of thecase to engage each other and hold the mounting clip in a fixedrotational orientation relative to the case; and a belt loop attached tothe inner face of the holster, the mounting clip being spaced apartlaterally from the belt loop. I

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including fastening means forreleasably attaching the mounting clip to the case.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the cooperating detent meanscomprise separate ratchet teeth on the mounting clip and the inner sideof the case, the ratchet teeth being rotatable relative to each otherwhen the fastening means are in a loosened condition, the ratchet teethalso being adapted to engage each other in a tight frictional fit whenthe fastening means are tightened.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a metal reinforcing plateattached to the inner side of the case, and means rigidly securing oneof the detent means to the reinforcing plate.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including an attachment device rigidlysecured to the reinforcing plate and extending through an aperture insaid one detent means to provide an axis about which the mounting cliprotates, and in which the fastening means are engaged with theattachment device.

9. A holster comprising a case for holding a firearm or the like, thecase having an inner side to be located adjacent the body of a userwearing the holster; an elongated mounting clip attached to the innerside of the case, a portion of the mounting clip being spaced apartlaterally from the inner side of the case; fastening means forreleasably attaching a portion of the mounting clip to the case; a beltloop attached to the inner side of the case, the mounting clip beingspaced apart laterally from the belt loop; the mounting clip being ofrelatively narrow profile and positioned so the length of the mountingclip extends generally parallel to the inner side of the case forfitting into the narrow space between the clothing of the user and theusers body to hold the case in a fixed position adjacent the body of theuser.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the mounting clip includesan elongated reinforcing member, and a layer of a compressible materialhaving a frictional outer surface covering the reinforcing member.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the reinforcing member isembedded in a layer of plastic foam material.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 including an attachment device havinga base portion and a fastener portion, the base portion being sandwichedbetween the inner side of the case and a portion of the belt loop forholding the attachment device on the case so the fastener portionthereof extends through the belt loop for releasable attachment to afastener for securing the mounting clip to the inner side of the case.

13. A holster comprising a case for holding a firearm or the like, thecase having an inner side to be located adjacent the body of a userwearing the holster; an elongated mounting clip attached to the innerside of the case, a portion of the mounting clip being spaced apartlaterally from the inner side of the case; the mounting clip being ofrelatively narrow profile and positioned so the length of the mountingclip extends generally parallel to the inner side of the case forfitting into the narrow space between the clothing of the user and theusers body to hold the case in a fixed position adjacent the body of theuser; the mounting clip being rotatable about an axis through the innerside of the case; and fastening means for releasably holding themounting clip in a fixed rotational orientation relative to the case,the fastening means including (a) an attachment device having a baseportion rigidly secured to the inner side of the case, and a fastenerportion projecting outwardly from the inner side of the case, (b) afirst ratchet means affixed to the fastener portion of the attachmentdevice, (c) a cooperating second ratchet means affixed to a portion ofthe mounting clip, and (d) a fastener extending through the first andsecond ratchet means for being releasably engaged with the fastenerportion of the attachment device, and first and second ratchet meansbeing rotatable relative to each other about the fastener portion of theattachment device when the fastener is in a released condition allowingthe mounting clip to rotate relative to the attachment device, theratchet means also being adapted to engage each other in a tightfrictional fit when the fastener is tightened to the attachment device.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the fastener releasablyattaches the mounting clip to the case, and including a belt loopattached to the inner face of the holster, the mounting clip beingspaced apart laterally from the belt loop.

1. A holster comprising a case for holding a firearm or the like, thecase having an inner side to be located adjacent the body of a userwearing the holster; an elongated mounting clip attached to the innerside of the case, a portion of the mounting clip being spaced apartlaterally from the inner side of the case; the mounting clip includingan elongated metal piece, and an outer layer of a compressible materialcovering the metal piece and having a generally roughened, frictionalouter surface; fastening means for releasably attaching the mountingclip to the case; and a belt loop attached to the inner face of theholster case, the mounting clip being spaced apart laterally from thebelt loop and being of relatively narrow profile and positioned so thelength of the mounting clip extends generally parallel to the inner sideof the case for fitting into the narrow space between the clothing ofthe user and the user''s body to hold the case in a fixed positionadjacent the body of the user.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1including means for rotatably attaching the mounting clip to the innerside of the case so the mounting clip is rotatable about an axisextending through the inner side of the case; and fastening means forreleasably holding the mounting clip in any of a plurality of rotationalorientations relative to the case.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2including cooperating detent means on the mounting clip and the innerside of the case to engage each other and hold the mounting clip in afixed rotational orientation relative to the case.
 4. A holstercomprising a case for holding a firearm or the like, the case having aninner side to be located adjacent the body of a user wearing theholster; an elongated mounting clip attached to the inner side of thecase, a portion of the mounting clip being spaced apart laterally fromthe inner side of the case; the mounting clip being of relatively narrowprofile and pOsitioned so the length of the mounting clip extendsgenerally parallel to the inner side of the case for fitting into thenarrow space between the clothing of the user and the user''s body tohold the case in a fixed position adjacent the body of the user; meansfor rotatably attaching the mounting clip to the inner side of the caseso the mounting clip is rotatable about an axis extending through theinner side of the case; fastening means for releasably holding themounting clip in any of a plurality of rotational orientations relativeto the case, the fastening means including cooperating detent means onthe mounting clip and the inner side of the case to engage each otherand hold the mounting clip in a fixed rotational orientation relative tothe case; and a belt loop attached to the inner face of the holster, themounting clip being spaced apart laterally from the belt loop. 5.Apparatus according to claim 4 including fastening means for releasablyattaching the mounting clip to the case.
 6. Apparatus according to claim5 in which the cooperating detent means comprise separate ratchet teethon the mounting clip and the inner side of the case, the ratchet teethbeing rotatable relative to each other when the fastening means are in aloosened condition, the ratchet teeth also being adapted to engage eachother in a tight frictional fit when the fastening means are tightened.7. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a metal reinforcing plateattached to the inner side of the case, and means rigidly securing oneof the detent means to the reinforcing plate.
 8. Apparatus according toclaim 7 including an attachment device rigidly secured to thereinforcing plate and extending through an aperture in said one detentmeans to provide an axis about which the mounting clip rotates, and inwhich the fastening means are engaged with the attachment device.
 9. Aholster comprising a case for holding a firearm or the like, the casehaving an inner side to be located adjacent the body of a user wearingthe holster; an elongated mounting clip attached to the inner side ofthe case, a portion of the mounting clip being spaced apart laterallyfrom the inner side of the case; fastening means for releasablyattaching a portion of the mounting clip to the case; a belt loopattached to the inner side of the case, the mounting clip being spacedapart laterally from the belt loop; the mounting clip being ofrelatively narrow profile and positioned so the length of the mountingclip extends generally parallel to the inner side of the case forfitting into the narrow space between the clothing of the user and theuser''s body to hold the case in a fixed position adjacent the body ofthe user.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the mounting clipincludes an elongated reinforcing member, and a layer of a compressiblematerial having a frictional outer surface covering the reinforcingmember.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the reinforcingmember is embedded in a layer of plastic foam material.
 12. Apparatusaccording to claim 9 including an attachment device having a baseportion and a fastener portion, the base portion being sandwichedbetween the inner side of the case and a portion of the belt loop forholding the attachment device on the case so the fastener portionthereof extends through the belt loop for releasable attachment to afastener for securing the mounting clip to the inner side of the case.13. A holster comprising a case for holding a firearm or the like, thecase having an inner side to be located adjacent the body of a userwearing the holster; an elongated mounting clip attached to the innerside of the case, a portion of the mounting clip being spaced apartlaterally from the inner side of the case; the mounting clip being ofrelatively narrow profile and positioned so the length of the mountingclip extends generally parallel to the inner side of the case forfitting into the narrow space between the clothing of the user and theuser''s body to hold the case in a fixed position adjacent the body ofthe user; the mounting clip being rotatable about an axis through theinner side of the case; and fastening means for releasably holding themounting clip in a fixed rotational orientation relative to the case,the fastening means including (a) an attachment device having a baseportion rigidly secured to the inner side of the case, and a fastenerportion projecting outwardly from the inner side of the case, (b) afirst ratchet means affixed to the fastener portion of the attachmentdevice, (c) a cooperating second ratchet means affixed to a portion ofthe mounting clip, and (d) a fastener extending through the first andsecond ratchet means for being releasably engaged with the fastenerportion of the attachment device, and first and second ratchet meansbeing rotatable relative to each other about the fastener portion of theattachment device when the fastener is in a released condition allowingthe mounting clip to rotate relative to the attachment device, theratchet means also being adapted to engage each other in a tightfrictional fit when the fastener is tightened to the attachment device.14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the fastener releasablyattaches the mounting clip to the case, and including a belt loopattached to the inner face of the holster, the mounting clip beingspaced apart laterally from the belt loop.